Screw-driver.



Nu. 687,40l. Patented Nov. 26, I901.

C. M. MORSE.

SCREW DRIVER.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Zhvenwn UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

CHARLES M. MORSE, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

SCREW DRIVER.

SEECIFICATIOIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,401, datedNovember 26, 1901.

Application filed February 28, 1901. Serial No. 49,275. (No model.) 7

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. MORSE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Screw-Drivers; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in screw-drivers, and is designedto enable the top of the handle to remain stationary in the hand whilethe rest of the handle, together with the blade, revolves. It is alsodesigned to lessen the friction between the two parts by theinterposition between them of ballbearings.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and making a part of thisapplication, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view, partly inelevation, of my improved driver, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,the top of the handle being removed, showing the plate secured to thehandle and the ball-bearings.

Same letters of reference refer to like parts.

In said drawings, A represents the blade of a screw-driver, B the top ofthe handle, and O the main part, which is secured to the blade in anysuitable manneras, for. example, by a pin 0 passing through the handleand blade, as seen in Fig. 1. Secured to the top of this part of thehandle in any convenient manner, as by screws D, is a plate or disk E,having a circular channel or raceway F therein, adapted to receive aseries of ballbearings G. The top 13 of the handle is secured to thepart 0 in any convenient manner which will permit the part 0 to havefree rotation relative to said part B. A convenient form is shownconsisting of a threaded screw I, passing through the top and screwinginto the disk E, as seen in Fig. 1. The part B may, if desired, becountersunk, as shown at H in Fig. 1, the sides extending below the topof the part G, as seen at J. It may also have a plate or disk K in thetop, adapted to rest upon the ball-bearings. It will be evident thatboth of the disks referred to may be omitted,if desired,and the channelorrace- Way made in the Wood of the handle without altering theprinciple involved in my invention. The metal disks, however, serve tolessen friction and wear on the parts. The connecting-screw may becountersunk at the top and the hole filled with an insert L. The shankof the screw is not threaded and permits the rotation of the part 0 ofthe handle independently of the other part. The screwbolt serves only tohold the two parts together and does not serve as a pintle or pivot uponwhich one part turns. The balls in the circular race support the twoparts of the handle on two sides of the screw, so that pressure on oneedge of the top of the handle does not tend to upset it nor cause thetop of the handle to press and bind against the screw. This is of thegreatest importance, as a tendency to bind, although very slight, wouldprevent the desired result. The two parts must be perfectly free torevolve easily one with respect to the other without any tendency of theparts to bind. This result I obtain by supporting the parts onballbearings arranged around on all sides of the connectingscrew.

The operation of my screw-driver is as follows: The blade is inserted inthe head of the screw and the palm of the hand pressed against the partB in the usual manner, the fingers and thumb grasping the lower part ofthe handle. The blade and lower part of the handle are then turned bythe fingers and thumb, the top remaining stationary relative to thehand. The driver works either way at will.

Having thus described my invention and its use, I claim- A tool-handlecomposed of wood and divided transversely, one of the adjacent facesbeing countersunk and the other having a corresponding raisedportion,the one adapted to overlap the other, metallic plates interposedbetween the adjacent faces and .ballbearings interposed between saidplates, the two parts of the handle being revolubly united.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 26th day of February, 1901.

CHARLES M. MORSE, Witnesses:

ELGIN C. VERRILL, MARION RICHARDS.

